Ted and Pat Morse, Susan Peterman and the Stray Chords Ceilidh Band host this wonderful week for all ages! Enjoy a family holiday filled with fun folk activities. Either choose to stay in the manor or camp in the grounds and relax while our great staff do all the catering for you and your family. There’s a full programme of dancing and music making and fun activities each morning while afternoons are usually free for trips around this beautiful area including the West Somerset Railway, the seaside and Exmoor – or you could even pop-down to Sidmouth Folk Week for the day! There will be dancing each evening with song sessions in the bar.

“Wonderful week, lovely people, friendly leaders who went the extra mile to make sure my family had a lovely time” Participant

Who’s it For?

The holiday is for families – parents, grandparents, and children of all ages!

The Team

Ted & Pat Morse: Ted began dancing with the Oxford Morris Men and Oxford City Folk Dance Club when he was 17, started calling and running barn dances at 19, and has barely paused since! Ted plays accordion, percussion and tuba, is an experienced band leader, teaches Morris, Sword and Country dancing (and more!) and is a regular tutor at Halsway Manor – along with Pat . In additional to playing and hosting the week, Pat will also be running craft workshops for you to try your hand at something different!

Susan Peterman joined the family folk team last year – and has decided to stay! With fresh ideas and boundless fun she’s a great addition to the team!

Stray Chords is the Rowe family band – Philip and Joyce, with their sons Joshua and Benjamin. The band plays lively traditional folk dance music from the British Isles and USA, for barn dances and ceilidhs. The boys won’t be joining us at Halsway this year, but Philip & Joyce – and visiting musicians – will continue to offer great music, for playing and for dancing!

Enjoy the area, bring a friend, share a room, & save money

You can book on a course at Halsway and bring a friend who can explore the area while using Halsway as a base for meals and accommodation. Halsway Manor is in the Quantock Hills (England’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). We’re just minutes away from the West Somerset Railway (one of Britain’s largest steam railways), Somerset’s Jurassic coast (ideal for fossil hunting), and the Exmoor National Park is right on our doorstep.